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Saturday, June 16, 2012

Donnelly Makes Rounds at Dem Convention

Congressman Joe Donnelly

Congressman Joe Donnelly had a very solid performance today at the Indiana Democratic State Convention in Fort Wayne. He delivered a great General Session speech and made a significant pledge to a key constituency.

In his speech to the delegates, Donnelly said that Indiana has a clear choice between extreme partisanship and Hoosier common sense when they go to the polls in November. It was only the beginning as Donnelly nailed Mourdock skillfully in a number of ways in his speech.

Donnelly began the speech by telling the story of a group of autoworkers in Kokomo. He talked about them waiting to hear if the auto bailout bill was going to go through and how good it felt to call them and tell them that they would still have jobs. Richard Mourdock, of course, fought that bailout bill in the courts recklessly spending taxpayer dollars and paying higher legal fees than Libya did.

He also went after Mourdock's view of partisanship. Donnelly said that he received a call from President Bill Clinton after the former President saw Mourdock do an interview. He said that Clinton told him that Mourdock's attitude sent "chills down his spine." Clinton told Donnelly that without bipartisanship in the 1990's nothing would have gotten done for America.

Asking for help, Donnelly told the delegates to talk to their friends and neighbors and to spread the word about Richard Mourdock. He said that Democrats should be reaching out to Richard Lugar Republicans and supporters and let them know that there's a home on this side of the aisle for them.

Mourdock's extreme views on Social Security and Medicare were also targets for Donnelly. He asked the delegates if they believed the two longtime social programs were unconstitutional. Of course, the group answered with a loud, "No!" Then, the Congressman asked, "Do you believe that Richard Mourdock is a Constitutional scholar." The crowd again responded with a loud, "No!"

Donnelly said that his record of fighting for working people should stand for itself. "I will walk from Lake Michigan to the Ohio River to find 10 more jobs or 10 more opportunities for Hoosiers," Donnelly said.

Earlier in the day, Donnelly, a defender of traditional marriage, told the Indiana Stonewall Democrats and Progressives Caucus that he would oppose any constitutional Amendment on marriage. He cited his record in supporting ENDA and the repeal of don't ask, don't tell as well.

Donnelly had a good day, and it was clear by the end that many who opposed his nomination for Senate were ready to vote for Joe in November.